Adherence to GOLD Guidelines in the Inpatient COPD Population

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2018

Publication Title

J Pharm Pract

Abstract

PURPOSE: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines provide recommendations to manage chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) exacerbations. This study assessed the management of inpatient COPD exacerbations at an urban teaching hospital.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of adults admitted between December 2010 and August 2012 with a COPD exacerbation was conducted. Patient demographics, length of stay (LOS), Charlson comorbidity score, inpatient pulmonary medications, and 30-day readmission were collected. Descriptive statistics characterized guideline adherence and readmission.

RESULTS: 94 patients were included with median LOS of 3 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-5 days) and median Charlson comorbidity score of 6 (IQR: 5-8). All patients received an inhaled short-acting beta agonist, and 52 (55.3%) also received an inhaled short-acting anticholinergic. Seventy-eight (83%) received systemic corticosteroids, of which 3 received guideline-recommended doses. Sixty-four (68.1%) received antibiotics for a pulmonary indication, of which 71.9% received appropriate antibiotics per indication. Of the 94 patients, 2 were managed in complete adherence with GOLD recommendations. A total of 24 (25.5%) patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge, 9 of these for COPD.

CONCLUSION: COPD exacerbation treatment deviated from GOLD recommendations. This provides opportunities for further optimization of treatment of COPD exacerbations.

Medical Subject Headings

Aged; Cohort Studies; Female; Global Health; Guideline Adherence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Readmission; Population Surveillance; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Retrospective Studies

PubMed ID

29278993

Volume

31

Issue

1

First Page

29

Last Page

33

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